Improvement in traveling-bags



UNITED STATES REINHARDT SOHMITT, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRAVELING-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,596, dated February 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REINHARDT SoHMrTT, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Fastenings for Valises and Satchels; and the following is declared to be a full and correct description of the same.

The moving portion or flap of valises and satchels has heretofore been held or kept in its closed position by jaws hinged to the frame of the valise; but these jaws are objectionable, because they are liable to get displaced and allow the valise to open, and they are also often in the way and have to be lifted up when it is desired to close the valise.

With the above-described means for securing the sides of the valise separate attachments have to be provided for the ends of the handles by which the valise or satchel is carried.

My invention consists of a loop with a flanged base held in place upon the frame of the valise by a slotted cap, and upon the under side of the flanged base is a projection, which forms a bolt to lock the sides of the valise together.

By this arrangement the loop affords a means for connecting the end of the handle to the bag, and also serves as a fin ger-piece when it is desired to disconnect the bolt and open the valise.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper portion of a valise with my improvement applied thereto, part of the same being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the flanged loop, cap, and spring; and Fig.

.3 is a section of the same at the line av 00.

a b represent the frame pieces forming the edges of the valise, and to these the bag or body portion 0 is to be attached in any desired manner. at d are the loops for the ends of the handle 6, and each loop is provided with the flanged portion 2 2 and projection or bolt 3. This flanged loop is held in place upon the frame I) by the slotted cap h, which is riveted or otherwise secured to said frame, and in said frame there is a slot for the bolt 3 to pass, and also to allow the necessary movement of the bolt when moved (by grasping the loop d) to connect it with or disconnect it from the stationary hook 5 to close or open the valise. A spring; d, between the base of the loop and the frame 11, gives the friction required for preventing the loop and bolt accidentally movmg.

The ends of the handles pass within the metal sockets i t, and may be secured by rivets passing through the material of the handle. The lower portion of the socket is formed asa ring to encircle the upper part of the loop and allow of the handle assuming the desired position without-the handle being bent or injur'ed.

In carrying the bag there will be no tendency for the bolts 3 3 to become disconnected, because. the weight of the bag will tend to move the loop toward the center of the bag, so that the bolts 3 will be drawn into contact with the hooks 5.

It will be evident that in small bags the bolts 3and hooks 5 may not be required, in which case the handle-socket will be secured to the, loop, as aforesaid, and the cap it will hold said. loop by means of the flanges-upon thebase of said loop.

I claim as my invention 1, The loops d made with flanges 2 that are secured by means of the cap h that is applied to and combined with the loop d, substantially as set forth.

2. The loop 6!, bolt 3, and cap 71:, in combination with the handle 0 and the hook 5, as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 3d day of June, 1872.

R. 'SOHMITT.

Witnesses:

Gno. T. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH. 

